The rivals for the 2012 GOP
presidential nomination oppose gay marriage and have sponsored
legislation that would ban it – Bachmann as a Minnesota state
senator and Gingrich as House Speaker – yet both say they believe
in states' rights to enact their own laws.

“In New York state, they have passed
the law at the state legislative level and, under the 10th
amendment, the states have the right to set the laws that they want
to set,” Bachmann said during an appearance on Fox News Sunday.

“That's up to the people of New
York,” she responded when host Chris Wallace noted that she opposes
such rights. “I think that it's best to allow the people to decide
on the issue. I think it's best if there is an amendment that goes
on the ballot, where people can weigh in.”

“But you would agree,” Wallace
interrupted, “if it's passed by the state legislature and signed by
the governor then that's the state's position?”

“It's state law,” Bachmann said.
“And the 10th amendment reserves to the states that
right.” (The video is embedded in the right panel of this page.)

Gingrich was asked about the issue
during a Q&A session with reporters during a campaign stop in
Indianola, Iowa.

“Iowa was a very different case from
New York,” Gingrich said. “I mean, Iowa was seven judges
deciding that they would arbitrarily overturn the laws and the
culture of the state of Iowa which is fundamentally different. I mean
New York at least, whether you agree or disagree with the outcome, it
is in the elected process and it is in the legislature and it is with
the governor and that's the right venue.”

“I helped sponsor the Defense of
Marriage Act which basically doesn't transfer automatically to all 50
states. I think the president should be, frankly, enforcing that act
and I think we are drifting towards a terrible muddle which I think
is going to be very, very difficult and painful to work our way out
of.”

“I believe that marriage is between a
man and a woman. I think that's what marriage ought to be and I would
like to find ways to defend that view as legitimately and effectively
as possible,” he added.

Both oppose marriage equality, say they
respect states' rights, but vow to fight such laws if elected
president.